The Berry Hotel: Feros Group’s ambitious redevelopment plans killed by Land and Environment Court

A Sydney-based developer’s grand plans to transform the historic Berry Hotel with dozens of new suites, a pokie room and rooftop pool have been rejected again just months after council first shot the plans down.

The Berry Hotel opened in 1863. Picture: Instagram

A Sydney-based developer’s grand plans to transform the historic Berry Hotel with dozens of new suites, a pokie room and rooftop pool have been rejected – again – just months after a regional council first shot the plans down.

Developers Feros Group took its $10.5m plan for the heritage South Coast pub to the NSW Land and Environment Court after Shoalhaven Council initially declined the proposal in June last year.

Council opposed the redevelopment due to heritage concerns and noncompliance with planning controls; including building height, parking and impacts on the surrounding area.

The plan included 33 new hotel rooms, parking, a rooftop pool, a new pokie room and landscaping enhancements.

It comes as the small township of Berry strongly resisted the overhaul, with 315 objections lodged.

Artist impression of the $10.5m plans. Picture: The Feros Group

Berry and District Historical Society president Margaret Cullity claimed the plans would overwhelm the town’s historic streetscape.

“In particular, the Berry Museum, a state heritage-listed building, is directly opposite the hotel and will be negatively impacted by the proposal,” she said.

The plans include new accommodation, a rooftop pool, parking and landscaping. Picture: The Feros Group

“[The society] would welcome sensitive renovation of the hotel to enhance this much-loved facility and make it a more usable public meeting place for residents and visitors, but renovations need to respect the cultural value of all four significant buildings and be of an appropriate scale and form.”

Berry Forum spokesman Ben Miller, who is also a senior town planner at Barker Ryan Stewart, agreed, noting plans were not clear on certain aspects, such as how parking was to be completed.

“The submitted architectural plans confirm the building will accommodate 33 rooms, with the existing 10 accommodation rooms in the pub to be repurposed as eight offices, storage, reception and staffroom facilities,” he said.

Shoalhaven Council ultimately rejected the proposal on June 26 last year.

Berry Hotel plans have been rejected – again. Photo: Instagram

On January 30 this year, The Feros Group took their case to the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Despite their new plea, Commissioner of the Court Susan O’Neill upheld council’s decision, ruling the changes would significantly damage the site’s heritage.

“The proposed changes would result in an adverse heritage impact on the fabric and setting of the hotel, as it involves the removal of excessive amounts of the original fabric of the heritage listed building, including original walls, internal layout and original features,” she said.

However, the Sydney developers are at liberty to appeal the court’s decision.

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Originally published as The Berry Hotel: Feros Group’s ambitious redevelopment plans killed by Land and Environment Court